Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Today’s text

Mark 8:31-34

Then [Jesus]began to teach them that the Son of man was destined to suffer grievously, and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter tried to rebuke him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are thinking not as God thinks, but as human beings do.' He called the people and his disciples to him and said, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Reflection

And how do human beings think? With that, Jesus, we are quite familiar, though we seldom take a step back to gain a long look at ourselves.

Truth is, most of our life is the search for the smoothest way through our days, not the most committed or principled. We seek what makes our lives simplest and protect the kingdom of our egos, refusing the invitation of deepest self to meet the One who awaits us there.

I find myself speaking of my ministry, as if it such a thing existed. It is your ministry in which I serve, your kingdom, your will, your face that is to be revealed in me.

And how do the joy of your grace and the sacrifice of your love come to expression in me? What do you make arise from deepest heart when I rest in your presence?

To what greater purpose of your kingdom am I so given that I seek that way, not that which is easy or smooth?

None, too often.

We lose our way, Jesus. We live far from the garden of our heart, forgetting what your grace seeks to grow in the good soil of our soul. Just so, we forget who we are and the cross your grace grows in our hearts.

For the cross grows there, in the heart, from the seed of your gracious love implanted. The cross is the fruit of your love, grown from the seed of your merciful presence. It grows in us, until we see just what it is you would give your world through us.

And we bear that cross, losing ourselves for a purpose worthy of those made in your holy image, the image of a coursing love, eternally flowing from depths we cannot see.

Dearest Friend, open our eyes to see your purpose growing in us. Teach us to nurture your seed and be guided by what grows.

Then we shall think as you think.

Pr. David L. Miller